There are fresh moves afoot to make energy drinks illegal for anyone under 16, as one school resorts to bag searches for caffeinated drinks and sugary snacks to improve pupil behaviour. A public health nutritionist wants to ban the sale of energy drinks, which can have more caffeine than a filter coffee, to pupils, so…

A study into using so-called “nudge theory” to encourage parents to pack healthier lunches for primary school students will publish its findings this month. Funded by Public Health England and carried out by researchers from the University of Derby, there are high hopes that the low-cost, low-intensity theory of behavioural modification could have a real…

Ministers have confirmed that funding from a tax on sugary soft drinks will continue to be ring-fenced for school sports until 2020. The government has plans to double the value of the primary PE and sports premium to £320 million from September by using some of the funds from the new tax. The levy, which…

Stamford Hill primary school in Tottenham, north London, has installed an edible playground as part of a countrywide initiative to combat childhood obesity. Raised beds will be installed for salads and root vegetables, fruit trees established and compost areas set up. The aim is to educate children about where their food comes from, with planting…

The government has said primary schools should provide at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day for pupils under a new strategy to tackle child obesity. The Department of Health today published its “Childhood obesity: a plan for action” which includes a raft of implications for schools. The strategy states primaries should deliver 30…

Schools must follow food standards and provide free meals to all infants. But dig into those standards and you’ll find odd combinations of ingredients. And what about the children who bring in their own food? Who keeps an eye on what they eat? Do you like the meals at your school? I can remember going…

Lack of sleep among teenagers could be causing serious problems for their health and academic progression. But are schools part of their insomnia problems? Sleep problems among teenagers commonly arise due to physical, mental and social changes taking place in their life. The pressures of homework, exams, relationships with friends, social activities, part-time jobs and…